The idea of getting up early in the morning and starting the day’s work by getting up early has been popular among successful individuals throughout history. Some consider the idea to be self-evident, while others believe it to be extravagant and unnecessary.

Whether or not we choose to find success, we must always honor our preferences. The wisest among us understand that each of us is special and that we have our own unique gifts. Those who fail to recognize this sentiment are doomed to always struggle, never truly being able to achieve their full potential. Therefore, we must respect the preferences of others, even if they differ from our own.

While it is true that successful individuals throughout history have generally preferred to wake up early and begin their days early in the day, it is also true that this idea is far from self-evident. In fact, the concept of waking up early is relatively new, and the notion that ‘early to bed, early to rise’ is the cornerstone of success is a relatively recent invention. As far back as 1760, Benjamin Franklin wrote, ‘I never yet knew a man of business who got up early and went to bed late, and who was a Failure. While Franklin’s assertion is certainly true, back then, the individuals who he observed were wealthy enough to afford the luxury of sleeping late. Moreover, very few of his readers were inHe spent the rest of his life mocking the idea, writing, ‘Why, Sir, I do declare, Sir, that a good sleep in a body’s young life is like unto a physic; it pays the Physician’s bill, and makes it smart again. Despite Franklin’s dismissive attitude towards early rising, there was a certain logic to his argument. In England, where Franklin lived, the work day was long, often lasting twelve hours, and any time spent sleeping was undoubtedly well earned. Furthermore, the poor were only allowed to sleep a maximum of six hours a day, and this limitation was enforced through fines and other penalties. Thus, by necessity, the people had to get up early and be ready to work. However, as Franklin’s time progressed, it became possible for the rich to sleep in until as late as ten or eleven in the morning, while the working class had to make do with only an hour or less of sleep. As a result, it became possible for those who could sleep late to live comfortable lives, while those who could not were forced to wake up earlier so that they could work and earn money. Thus, while Franklin’s comment may have been made in jest, he did have a point: those who are successful are those who have the self-discipline to get up early in the morning and work, while those who are unsuccessful are the ones who are not willing to get up early and work.

The idea of ‘early to bed, early to rise’ has caught on in modern times, but the idea of getting up early in the morning and starting the day’s work by getting up early has remained largely the same. Today, there are many people who claim to be successful despite the evidence to the contrary. For example, there are numerous professional athletes who continue to play despite serious injuries, and who, as a result, are often forced to wake up early and train. Even more importantly, there are millions of individuals who lost their jobs during the recent economic recession, and who now work multiple jobs in order to make enough money to live. Thus, it cannot be said that successful people wake up early and work; rather, they are forced to, and this compulsion stems from the fact that they are convinced, through excessive media hype, that success can only be achieved by waking up early.

There are others who believe that ‘early to bed, early to rise’ is unnecessary, and they believe that people should pursue their own interests and passions, regardless of what others might think. For example, many successful entrepreneurs will tell you that they wake up excited every morning, ready to start the day. In their minds, every day is another chance to win, and they cannot wait until the day is over. There are also those who argue that ‘early to bed, early to rise’ is impractical, and that people should enjoy each day as it comes. These individuals claim that if people are serious about being happy, then they should seek out the activities that make them truly happy, regardless of whether these activities take place in the morning or at night. While these two arguments may have validity, the truth is that no one can truly be happy if they do not work towards achieving their goals. If we are not willing to work hard enough, then we will be forever frustrated by our lack of success. Thus, to be successful, we must follow the ‘early to bed, early to rise’ mentality, no matter how tired we may be.